Poetry of Cao Cao

Cao Cao (155–220) was a warlord who rose to power towards the final years of the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE) and became the de facto head of government in China. He laid the foundation for what was to become the state of Cao Wei (220–265), founded by his son and successor Cao Pi, in the Three Kingdoms period (220–280). Poetry, among other things, was one of his cultural legacies.

A Ming Dynasty portrait of Cao Cao from the Sancai Tuhui.

Overview

Cao Cao was an accomplished poet, as were his sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi. Cao Cao was also a patron of poets such as Xu Gan.[1] Of Cao Cao's works, only a remnant remain today. His verses, unpretentious yet profound, helped to reshape the poetic style of his time and beyond, eventually contributing to the poetry styles associated with Tang Dynasty poetry. Cao Cao, Cao Pi and Cao Zhi are known collectively as the "Three Caos". The Three Caos' poetry, together with additional poets, eventually developed into the Jian'an style: Jian'an was the era name for the period from 196 to 220. Poets of the Cao family and others continued to write and develop the poetry of this style, after the end of the Han Dynasty and the subsequent founding of the Cao Wei state: these were the Jian'an poets. The effects of civil strife on poetry towards the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty contributed to the development of a solemn and heart-stirring tone of lament for life's ephemeral nature during the period of Jian'an poetry.

From its roots in Han poetry folk songs, Jian'an poetry evolved into a form of scholarly poetry that is characteristic of Six Dynasties poetry. Cao Cao and other Jian'an poets developed the characteristic Han fu (or yuefu) poetry style deriving from folk song or ballad traditions, such as of uneven line lengths. Irregular lines became transformed into regular five-character line-length styles, very similar (and inspirational to) the shi poetry of the Tang Dynasty's five-character regular line. Cao Cao has specifically been noted for his ballad-style verse, which he apparently set to music.[2]

Cao Cao also wrote verse in the older four-character per line style characteristic of the Classic of Poetry. Burton Watson describes Cao Cao as: "the only writer of the period who succeeded in infusing the old four-character metre with any vitality, mainly because he discarded the archaic diction associated with it and employed the ordinary poetic language of his time."[3] Cao Cao is also known for his early contributions to the Shanshui poetry genre, with his 4-character-per-line, 14-line poem "View of the Blue Sea" (as translated by Wai-lim Yip).[4]

Poems

Though the Tortoise Lives Long

One of Cao Cao's most celebrated pieces, written in the old four-character line style, is titled Though the Tortoise Lives Long (龜雖壽). It is one part of a four-part poem titled Steps through the Illustrious Gate (步出夏門行). It was written during the Battle of White Wolf Mountain in 207.

《龜雖壽》	Though the Tortoise Lives Long
神龜雖壽，猶有竟時。	Though the tortoise blessed with magic powers lives long, Its days have their allotted span;
騰蛇乘霧，終為土灰。	Though winged serpents ride high on the mist, They turn to dust and ashes at the last;
老驥伏櫪，志在千里；	An old war-horse may be stabled, Yet still it longs to gallop a thousand li;
烈士暮年，壯心不已。	And a noble-hearted man though advanced in years Never abandons his proud aspirations.
盈縮之期，不但在天；	Man's span of life, whether long or short, Depends not on Heaven alone;
養怡之福，可得永年。	One who eats well and keeps cheerful Can live to a great old age.
幸甚至哉！歌以咏志。	And so, with joy in my heart, I hum this song.

Short Song Style

Cao Cao citing the Short Song Style while facing the rising moon at Mount Nanping. From Yoshitoshi's One Hundred Aspects of the Moon series of ukiyo-e woodblock prints

Another of Cao Cao's most well known poems is Short Song Style (短歌行).

《短歌行》	Short Song Style
對酒當歌，人生幾何？	I lift my drink and sing a song, for who knows if one's life is short or long
譬如朝露，去日苦多。	Man's life is like the morning dew, past days many future days few
慨當以慷，憂思難忘。	The melancholy my heart begets, comes from cares I cannot forget
何以解憂？唯有杜康。	Who can unravel these sorrows of mine, I know of only one man, the God of Wine[lower-alpha 1]
青青子衿，悠悠我心。[lower-alpha 2]	Disciples dressed in blue, my heart worries for you
但為君故，沈吟至今。	You are the cause of this song without pause
呦呦鹿鳴，食野之蘋。	"Across the banks a deer bleats, in the wilds where it eats
我有嘉賓，鼓瑟吹笙。[lower-alpha 3]	Honoured guests I salute, strike the drums, and play the flute
明明如月，何時可掇？	Bright is the moon's sparkle; Will there be a time it can be grasped?
憂從中來，不可斷絕。	Thoughts of you from deep inside, never settling never ceasing
越陌度阡，枉用相存。	Friends drop by via a country road, the respect they pay really show.
契闊談宴，心念舊恩。	A long due reunion we fest, sharing past stories we possessed
月明星稀，烏鵲南飛，	The moon outshines the sparse stars; the crows fly to the south
繞樹三匝，何枝可依？	Circling the tree three times; on what branch can they find rest?
山不厭高，海不厭深。	Mountains do not despise height; Seas do not despise depth
周公吐哺，天下歸心。	The sage pauses when guests call, so at his feet the empire does fall![lower-alpha 4]

1. In Chinese, a reference to Du Kang
2. This a quote from a love poem in the Classic of Poetry
3. This entire stanza is a quote from a poem in the Classic of Poetry
4. Originally a reference to a story of the legendary Duke of Zhou. While he was eating, he would spit out his food and meet them instead of finish his meal. Later commentators praised him for his self-sacrifice.

See also

• Cao Cao
• Chinese poetry
• Jian'an poetry
• Shanshui poetry

Notes

1. Davis, p. vi
2. Watson, p.38
3. Watson, p. 38
4. Yip, 130-133

References and further reading

• A. R. (Albert Richard) Davis, Editor and Introduction (1970). The Penguin Book of Chinese Verse. Penguin Books.
• Burton Watson (1971). Chinese Lyricism: Shih Poetry from the Second to the Twelfth Century. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-03464-4.
• Yip, Wai-lim (1997). Chinese Poetry: An Anthology of Major Modes and Genres. (Durham and London: Duke University Press). ISBN 0-8223-1946-2
• Xiao Tong. Wen Xuan.